RCCG Begins Repatriation of 500 Nigerians From South Africa, Adeboye Welcomes First Batch of 105

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has commenced the repatriation of at least 500 Nigerians from South Africa, with the first batch of 105 returnees arriving safely in Lagos.

The General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, welcomed the returnees in a post on X on Friday, expressing gratitude to God for their safe journey home.

“Welcome home beloved 105 citizens of Nigeria who have just safely arrived from South Africa,” Adeboye wrote.

“We are grateful to God for helping us make your safe return possible. We shall continue to pray for you as the Government continues with what remains to ensure you reunite with your families. God bless you all.”

The development followed the arrival of 107 Nigerians at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday night.

The returnees are the first batch of at least 500 Nigerians expected to be repatriated under the humanitarian intervention, which followed an appeal from the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa.

The Chairman of the RCCG Task Force for the Reception of Nigerian Returnees from South Africa, Pastor Belemina Obunge, said Adeboye approved the funding for the air transportation of the Nigerians on humanitarian grounds.

Obunge said the returnees were Nigerians who had been profiled and documented by the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and the South African Home Affairs authorities.

He stressed that the beneficiaries were not selected based on their membership of the RCCG, adding that Nigerians of different faiths were included.

“They are Muslims, Christians, all religions. And we are intentional in making sure that we have collaborated with the various government agencies,” he said.

The RCCG is funding the air transportation from Johannesburg to Lagos, while government agencies are responsible for receiving the returnees and coordinating their onward movement.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons were among those who received the returnees at the airport, after which profiling commenced.

The Head of Operations, NEMA, Mohammed Olatunde, said the returnees would be transported to their respective state capitals after the profiling exercise had been completed.

Obunge explained that the repatriation would continue in batches because of the documentation and clearance processes in South Africa.

“There is a process in South Africa. The process requires they are being cleared by the High Commission and they are being cleared by Home Affairs. A lot of documentation has to be done. Once the next batch is ready, we shall be so informed,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians still stranded in the country to approach the Nigerian diplomatic mission for assistance with their documentation.

Obunge called on state governments to support the reintegration of their citizens, saying some had already started doing so.

“We use this opportunity to urge the states and governments to welcome their people home and see what they can do, as some have already started doing, to assist with the effective reintegration of their people into the society,” he said.

He also encouraged other religious organisations to take a cue from the RCCG’s intervention.

“We are encouraging other religious organisations to take cue. As you rightly said, other nations have similar challenges. We have set an example with South Africa,” Obunge stated.

The RCCG said the first batch of returnees marked the beginning of the humanitarian intervention, with further batches expected to arrive after completing the required documentation and clearance processes.